San Jose leading the league in blown third period leads
by Mr. Plank on Jan 12, 2011 9:01 AM PST
in Special Features
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PrintAs Yannis Philippakis, lead singer of the excellent British alternative-indie band Foals, sings on the track Spanish Sahara, "Forget the horror here, leave it all down here, it's future rust and then it's future dust. I'm the fury in your head, I'm the fury in your bed, I'm the ghost in the back of your head."
It's become the anthem of San Jose's season thus far. Those ghosts have come out of the woodwork, specifically in the third period, leaving the Sharks bleeding away standings points like they were hemophiliacs with a passion for self-induced pain.
They did it again last night against Toronto. Yes, that Toronto, a team that is hardly the embodiment of offensive supremacy, led by non other than ex-coach Ron Wilson who picked up his 600th career win in his old barn following the festivities.
With San Jose now in the midst of a five-game losing streak, that's nearly criminal.
It makes the fifth game this season where San Jose has lost after leading going into the third period, a total that puts them at the top of the NHL in that category. And it's not as if San Jose is getting hammered up and down the ice-- despite all of their mercurial play, slow starts, and inconsistent offensive production from their top line, the Sharks have managed to head into the final period with a lead more than any other team in the league outside of Philadelphia and Vancouver. They've had their opportunities to put teams away. They've done an extraordinarily poor job of doing so.
From a winning percentage standpoint, San Jose sits at .762%, 27th in the NHL. St. Louis, Edmonton, and the New York Islanders have worse winning percentages, but have gone into the third period with a lead in far less games than the Sharks. No matter which way you decide to slice up the numbers, the returns are clearly lacking. The results? Gut-wrenching.
And it's made all the difference in the Western Conference this season.
With three regulation losses (TOR, MIN, NSH) and two overtime losses (DAL, COL), the Sharks have left eight standings points on the table. If San Jose cuts that number in half they're tied for fifth in the Conference at 51 points-- a perfect record puts them at 55 points, in sole possession of fourth and granted a large amount of breathing room to weather the shooting slump that has taken hold of the entire roster.
That's the difference keeping the Sharks from being a playoff team right now. And it's a large part of the reason why coaches and fans alike have highlighted this porous offensive stretch, where the team is generating shots from good areas of the ice, as a question of context. If the Sharks lock down these games they can withstand a few excellent goaltending performances. But these blown leads have set in motion a situation where, opposition goaltending be damned, they don't have that reserve tank of points to help guide them through a rough patch.
Each loss puts them further away from earning home-ice advantage in the first round. To say nothing of the fact that, more than halfway through the season, the Sharks have yet to establish themselves as a team consistently in the top eight of the Western Conference.
The curious thing about the entirety of it all is just how the goals against have played out. San Jose hasn't gotten into penalty trouble in these games-- the most they've had to lace up their skates for the penalty kill in the third period is once, with Niclas Wallin's double minor at the end of the second period against Minnesota being the only situation where San Jose has been forced to skate more than two minutes shorthanded in the third.
And the results have been fine in that regard. Clarke MacAurthur's power play goal last night was the first time they've given up a marker shorthanded in these blown leads, meaning the damage has come entirely from even strength. That's the opposite of what one would expect with a winning percentage so low. Penalty trouble is usually the catalyst for late game meltdowns, and the Sharks have done well in limiting those opportunities for opposing teams.
They're disciplined late in the game, albeit asleep at the wheel.
The list of defensemen who have been caught on the ice for these breakdowns contain San Jose's most notable names. Out of the eleven goals scored against at even strength, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (6), Dan Boyle (5), and Jason Demers (5) are the ones who have been victimized the most. A large part of that is due to ice time, as Todd McLellan will obviously turn to his most trusted rearguards when protecting a lead, but the fact that Vlasic and Boyle have been on duty for a vast amount of these blown leads isn't an inspiring statistic from your top-tier players.
The forwards contain more of a spread-- Devin Setoguchi leads the cast with six goals against, Ryane Clowe clocks in with five, Marleau and Couture four. Joe Thornton's increased defensive awareness puts him at two goals against, a good sign from a player that sees so much ice time.
Hello Mr. Brightside. Knew you'd show up sooner or later.
Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of these blown leads isn't the fact that they've been long and drawn out affairs that see teams chip away with a goal here and there. The breakdowns have come like a torpedo from the murky depths fifteen miles out, unseen and unrecognized until the hull gets clipped and it's mayday mayday abandon ship.
Last night against the Leafs it was two goals in three and a half minutes. After the Sharks tied the game Toronto ripped it away for good two shifts later. Minnesota's outburst to tie the game and take the lead saw three goals get potted in 5:21, with the game winner and insurance marker coming in at just over a minute from one another. Nashville took 44 seconds to turn a one-goal deficit into a one goal lead, doing so in the last four minutes of the game. Dallas did it in a similar fashion, breaking hearts and a two goal lead in 29 seconds with under three minutes left on the clock before winning in overtime.
Asleep at the wheel? Hell, we're talking microsleep here. Fraction of a second, rip your heart out, lose your breath and never find it again type stuff.
The three most recent losses to Toronto, Minnesota, and Nashville are the ones that hurt the most because they have resulted in zero standings points for the Sharks. In Colorado and Dallas they were able to hold on and push the game into overtime, picking up a courtesy loser point which, despite the fact San Jose gave up two-goal leads in both games, lessens the toll on both mind and record. With each point extremely valuable in the Western Conference this season, the result of seeing nothing for your efforts has to sting. You'd be hard pressed to pinpoint the exact psychological effect that sort of turn of events can have on a locker room, but there is no doubt it is there.
It's hard to forget the horror with the ghosts in the back of your head.
A benchmark of great teams is the ability to clamp down at the end of games and finish what you worked forty minutes to achieve. San Jose has not done that this season. The small length of time between goals against during these breakdowns just shows you how important each shift is at the NHL level-- things can snowball quickly, and an ability to stem the bleeding is paramount lest you end up on the outside looking in.
Which is where the Sharks stand today.
Protecting these third period leads can start with the the coaching staff, or the lettered players, or the locker room leaders, or the second line stalwarts, or the role players who have had enough. But it has to start somewhere.
Because right now, if you squint hard enough and position your head at just the right angle, you'll see the sky beginning its slow and deliberate descent towards the surface of the Earth.
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The thing that frustrates/discourages/depresses me more than anything else is the lack of an explanation. Diminishing shooting percentages, etc. only tell one part of the story; the other part is just baffling, and, at least for me, makes this season that much more frustrating. If the offense was doing what everyone knows they’re capable of, a cumulative negative third period for the season would not be nearly as noticeable.
..:Fear The Fin:..
Twittaaaaaaahhh
Depressing few weeks being a Sharks fan for sure. I’m starting to wonder if maybe the age of our top line guys is contributing to the 3rd period meltdowns. They aren’t necessarily “old” by hockey standards, but they certainly aren’t getting any younger. Years of taking a beating has got to take its toll.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
Twitter! rmorse05
by sharks in oc on Jan 12, 2011 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I’ve considered the age factor. The Wings are an old team too, however, but an old team that has a superior blueline as well.
..:Fear The Fin:..
Twittaaaaaaahhh
A Theory...
I’ve been wondering for some time if it doesn’t come down to training. Third period collapses, inability to make a clean play after working the puck to the net, lapses in attention on D. Sounds like there just isn’t enough gas in the tank.
With the focus on being big and strong, maybe the endurance work has been lacking. Hockey is more like a marathon (albeit one where the runners can elbow each other in the chest), than a sprint. Time for some 20 mile hill runs, or at least up and down the steps at the tank.
I figure the guys with top minutes need to sprint 3 miles in a game, and be able to settle down enough to take a decent shot at the end of it.
by OrdinaryJoe on Jan 12, 2011 10:06 AM PST up reply actions
Has anyone heard about Logan? and how he is doing? I hope he is doing better!!! Still gives me the chills to see him going down on the ice last night! his knee….. scary.
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
No word yet. I’m sure as soon as anyone hears anything they’ll post it up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
Twitter! rmorse05
by sharks in oc on Jan 12, 2011 9:43 AM PST up reply actions
Thanks…… I will keep him in my prayers…….
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
Plank just tweeted:
“According to an article by @RattoCSN, SJS will probably miss Couture for a game and not much more. His time off the ice may be minimal."
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.
Twitter! rmorse05
by sharks in oc on Jan 12, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions
Great to see a reporter (even if it’s Ratto) getting some injury information on a Shark. They’re so tight-lipped with this stuff and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle the vague info. in this case. Hopefully he’s right about it being a deep bruise and limited time off.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Jan 12, 2011 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
Thank goodness
When I saw that last night, I thought he was going to be out for a while. But then again, they told us Pavelski was only going to be out for a “couple of games” not a couple of weeks.
"They are an awesome group to have on my side. And on Sundays I always feel a little bad for the other quarterback, but not too bad."-Ben Roethlisberger on the Steeler's Defense-
100% Authentic woman. Yes it's true. I looked it up on Google
Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off
Seeds of the collapse
Usually come earlier than the third. The Sharks are prone to giving up “momentum.”
Yes, another one of these non-numerical/intangible/mostly-made-up-so-non-statistical-people-like-Ray-Ratto-can-sound-smart/soft arguments.
But it’s hard to discount how many chances the Sharks fail to capitalize on early in games.
Last night, the stretch of special teams play in the immediate aftermath of the Logan Couture injury were a perfect chance for the Sharks to be able to open up a wider lead and start to put the game away.
Instead, the Sharks let Toronto hang around and pay for it.
With a two or three goal lead, you play shorter, harder shifts, focus on the simple plays, and force the other team to press, giving you opportunities to burn them in transition.
The Sharks are simply unable to do this. The drop in shooting percentage is a huge contributor here. If you’re not scoring, you don’t have the chance to play a shutdown third period.
Not that this is particularly helpful, because it implies the Sharks are simply getting beat all things being equal.
Very very very very very very frustrating.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I was reading the article, hoping you'd address this:
Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of these blown leads isn’t the fact that they’ve been long and drawn out affairs that see teams chip away with a goal here and there. The breakdowns have come like a torpedo from the murky depths fifteen miles out, unseen and unrecognized until the hull gets clipped and it’s mayday mayday abandon ship.
The only other thing I’d like to see if you have time/data is the average time between third period goals. I’d imagine it’s pretty small, especially given those statistics in the following paragraph.
Last thing, what the hell was up with the team after Couture left? You’d think they’d be out for blood the rest of the game, hitting harder, dropping the gloves, whatever. Didn’t happen aside from the 30 seconds after the knee. Granted, Orr didn’t come out again, but seriously, how about knocking the shit out of Versteeg, Phaneuf, Kaberle, etc.? Where was the anger? Play got chippy, but there was no anger from the team. Extremely disappointing, but sadly expected from this bunch. Playing without emotion has been the rule rather than the exception this year.
Joe Thornton
Since Jumbo Joe Thornton is supposed to be the leader of this team and has size and supposed toughness and because he was on the ice at the time, he needed to go over to Orr and take a stand. The Sharks needed him more at that moment than at anytime during the teams freefall. Is Ryann Clowe the only guy other than Jamal Mayers who is willing to stand up for teamates? It’s no wonder this team is not playing together, for one another. It’s pathetic really and shows me that this entire experiment needs to be blown up.
In the words of Jim Mora, “Playoffs”? Not this year, not this team.
Character
Also, perhaps we’ve lost more character in the room than originally thought: Blake, Malhotra, Ortmeyer, Shelley, Staubitz. Any or all of these guys (including Owen Nolan) would have challenged Orr, but I guess this team is content to just be average, if that…
Orr was kept off the ice for the remainder of the game by Wilson. No opportunity to challenge him.
..:Fear The Fin:..
Twittaaaaaaahhh
Exactly
What was Joe supposed to do, come off the bench and attack him? And then lose Joe for 3 games on the heels of a 5 game losing streak?
I doubt Blake, Malhotra, or Ortemeyer would have challenged anybody in that situation. And if the argument is that we are losing because we don’t have guys like Staubtiz or Shelly…well, the Blackhawks or the Redwings have nobody like that and they do just fine.
On one hand, I agree...on the other...
Going out there and taking a stupid roughing penalty by going after Orr would have been dumb. These penalties that are often taken by Clowe and McGinn should not be praised but discouraged. I don’t give a fuck that you stood up for a bad hit – you cost your team by going to the box and possibly getting scored on by the opposing Powerplay unit, but that’s just my stance. :)
Go Sharks!
Right, Joe wasn’t even on the ice at the time of the incident. But what really pissed me off there was that once Clowe came in to challenge Orr, the refs wrapped him up immediately and effectively ended whatever opportunity to stick up for Couture.
Watching the postgame, Clowe was pretty upset, but he said it right there – what was he supposed to do? Throw the linesman off him? It’s not exactly the same as hockey, but remember how Justin Smith got tossed for putting his hands on the ref in the Rams game… if Clowe did that, he might’ve gotten penalized or even kicked out of the game.
"Burnside seems to hate these guys. Oh wait ... I seem to love these guys!" - Pierre LeBrun
Maybe I’m not enough of an old-school hockey fan, but I thought Clowe and Thornton showed a lot of leadership and maturity there by not losing their wits and instead thinking that the best payback was a PP goal (if only) and then a good fight later with Orr. Of course they didn’t build that lead, and Orr never saw the ice again, but I don’t doubt that the Sharks’ had Couture’s back in this case.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Jan 12, 2011 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, it takes maturity and control to not take a dumb penalty there
But it also looks bad when you come out after a cheap shot that takes out your best player and no one does anything for the rest of the game. Orr didn’t see the ice again, but there were other Leafs on the ice…I’m not saying our guys should have returned the cheap shots, I’m saying they could have thrown more hits, showed a little anger, something to let the Leafs and their teammates know that they were not going to let that slide. Yes, the best payback is a PP goal, but Orr, and by extension the Leafs needed to be held accountable for that hit. I was disappointed that the Sharks showed no intentions of doing that.
by Chicago Shark on Jan 12, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
I thought they had more than enough toughness after the hit
They were putting bodies on the boards, and showed that they were able to fight back while also not taking a penalty. The last thing they want to do is take a bunch of senseless penalties.
It is also just bad sportsmanship to try to instigate fights with the rest of the team because of one man made a horrible move on the ice. The Sharks did exactly what the blues did after the Thornton hit which, in my opinion, was the best and respectable decision.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 12, 2011 2:33 PM PST up reply actions
Do the Red WIngs retaliate for this stuff? THe Hawks? The Penguins?
There are many examples of teams that are sucessful that don’t engage in those shenanigans.
the penguins definitely defend their players
they have guys that play rough and are willing to drop the gloves. but I’m curious to know how many times those teams actually have to defend their players. They all play quick transition games which can leave the bigger teams on their heels.
The Penguins lead the NHL in fighting majors this season. The Hawks are more than willing to step up the hitting against physical teams…and to send a message. The Red Wings do their talking on the scoreboard, so I’ll give you that one. But other than the Wings, teams will step up and defend their players…
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
The Jody Shelley of FearTheFin's Mod Squad.
Tweet Tweet.
by ZeroIndulgence on Jan 12, 2011 8:18 PM PST up reply actions
Nowhere am I saying the Sharks should have dropped the gloves
started cheap-shotting Kessel, or engaged in other shenanigans like that. I’m saying that the Sharks should have come out angry after a blatant cheap shot on their best player, but they came out and gave up 4 (FOUR) goals!
I must have been watching a different game, because they showed no additional edge after that play. Sure they continued playing as they had, but again, they gave up 4 goals afterwords. If a dirty hit like that doesn’t wake this team up, then they’re screwed.
by Chicago Shark on Jan 12, 2011 4:57 PM PST up reply actions
And now for something completely different....
Sharks have dropped 5 games in a row. They are having problems scoring. Couture might be out for awhile.
We need some levity.
Oh My......
I heard about this! thanks for sharing… a bright spot on this gloomy day…..
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
The Hockey Gods couldn't be charitable enough to give the Sharks the win....
…but at least they gave female Sharks fans Doug Murray undressing. And how priceless was it that he had to bend over and get some equipment on the floor? Indeed, a moment of light during this dark period of struggle.
I still think Dougie knew exactly what he was doing! :-)
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
I swooned last night when I first saw it and I will swoon again...
What was Clowe saying????
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
I bet Dougie knew that camera was right on him and, well, wanted to give us gals a show! hehehehe Good greif…. Play it again!!!!! and again…. and again…..
And when we loose another game, I will just watch Doug in his skivies!
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
aaaaaaand
officially distracted all the female Sharks fans.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 12, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
not I!
I was listening intently to my Clowie. Psh Dougie stealing all of Clowe’s thunder with his very tight spandexy black and red boxer-briefs! //grumble
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 2:55 PM PST up reply actions
What color do you think Clowie wears? :)
And anyone who watched 24/7 as grossed out as me by Sid’s lucky cup?
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
he likes grey shirts
so I’m thinking grey or black. If he wears white ones I’m gonna be sad. LOL! Ok no more. I already feel like i should dunk my brain into a bucket of purell and i’m sure the guys do too.
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 3:21 PM PST up reply actions
YOU'VE BEEN CAUGHT!!!
You paid attention to the colors and what kind they were lady! Wonder if Clowe will be next for a striptease ;)
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 12, 2011 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
Ah shiet.
busted. No please thanks. I’m probably the only girl who doesn’t dig athletes that way hahaha!
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
At least I could go to sleep with a happy Sharks thought/memory.
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
This is why we need Ice Girls.
At least after a soul-raping loss like this last one (or the last 5) we’d be treated to some hot girls in sharks gear. Certainly not as good as a win, but at least it’s something.
Besides you girls get the locker room cam, so it only seems fair.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 3:35 PM PST up reply actions
Ice Girls....
Bet you love watching the Dalls Stars games then! _
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
NO ICE GIRLS!!!
Murray striptease was incidental. I’m glad it was, I think I’d get bored if it was a regular occurrence.
You don't gotsta lie
No judgments here sister.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 3:46 PM PST up reply actions
That's just low.
No self respecting Sharks fan loves watching Dallas-anything.
Especially not their buck-toothed knock-kneed horse-faced space dog Ice Girls.
Stupid Dallas.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 3:46 PM PST up reply actions
Um. Ouch much?
I’d never want to insult you because that hurt…and I’m not nearly…wow. Staying on your good side.
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 3:48 PM PST up reply actions
You're always on my good side
Any friend of Clowe is a friend of mine, and I had fun yelling “GO CLOWE GO” with you at FTF night haha.
I have no idea what the Dallas ice girls look like, but a Spaceballs reference came to mind and I was powerless not to use it. I’m sure they’re all lovely upstanding young ladies- but they cheer for Dallas, and I’m having trouble not lashing out at anything and everything after watching ANOTHER humiliating Sharks loss with Slappy last night. Especially Dallas.
Stupid Dallas.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 3:54 PM PST up reply actions
good!
because I basically fangirl any guy who’s a fan of Clowe but I’m not a Clowe fangirl. Get it? Got it? Good :) Upstanding young ladies? What next you’re going to call us whippersnappers geesh! LOL i was just foolin. Always stupid Dallas…always.
GO CLOWE GO!!! You got Slappy and I got Boyle’d how fair was that hahaha.
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 3:59 PM PST up reply actions
No worries I getted it.
Upstanding young ladies sounded like a good counter-point to buck-toothed knock-kneed horse-faced space dogs haha. Personally I still lean towards the latter :)
I’m definitely not a good person to mess with after a sharks loss, my rage becomes uncontrollable and since I’m powerless to change anything it ends up targeting anything and everything. Especially whippersnappers.
Fuckin whippersnappers…
And so far Slappy and me are 2-7. I’m afraid he’s going to start demanding blood sacrifices in addition to the bean burritos…
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 4:08 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe Slappy can put on some skates and get out there and lend a hand? :-)
Again, I meant no disrespect and I was just goofin around. Sometimes my mouth (or in this case fingers) move faster than I think! And I guess I should have worded it better….
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
I'm trying to keep anything sharp or metal away from him until we win again
For my safety, the safety of our players, hell- the safety of the whole Bay Area.
And I run into you on here a lot, I too was just messin, I know you mean well :)
That said…
NEVER AGAIN IMPLY I ENJOY WATCHING DALLAS DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN DIIIIIIIIIIE!!!!
And Go Sharks.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
I was being a smart A when I said that CloweMyWord liked to watch the Stars games because of the Ice Girls…. I meant no disrespect to the Sharks fans…
Sorry! Douglas Murrays undies got me distracted!
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
no worries, I think we're all in need of some comic relief.
Especially after last night. But don’t be a DICK and come back agian soon. SMH Dougie had to have known he was within camera shot…
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 12, 2011 4:00 PM PST up reply actions
Sigh… its been a hard 2nd season for me to follow…..
I just want the guys in Teal to win! And it breaks my heart….
So with that note, I will say it again!! GO SHARKS!!
I do believe. :-)
"Hey! Thats my dummy!" Joe Thornton from the The Sharks A Capella Holiday Album
Always keep your head up
The past few seasons the fans has been spoiled, but there was a time the Sharks weren’t all that great. If you are able to stick through the tough times, then you’ll be pretty freaking proud during the best times.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 8:48 AM PST up reply actions
The Yannis Philippakis Reference
Very Bucci-esque…and I mean that as a total compliment.
Back to reading.
TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted about last night’s game: “San Jose looked slow last night. D really struggled….”
Seems that Elvis isn’t the only one who thinks the Sharks look like a slow, plodding team this year.
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
The Jody Shelley of FearTheFin's Mod Squad.
Tweet Tweet.
by ZeroIndulgence on Jan 12, 2011 11:15 AM PST reply actions
Didn't we already know this though?
I could’ve swore I read numerous people and posters lamenting the Sharks speed and youth to quickly move the puck well in transitions during line changes.
- "You have very lucky dishes, Mr. Simpson. He says he will banish dirt to the land of wind and ghost."
- "Remember...we parked in the Itchy Lot."
- "The frogurt is also cursed."
by Alex Houston on Jan 12, 2011 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I don’t really know how anyone could say that the Sharks have good team speed. Even our best players don’t play a fast game, and the D is so plodding it’s not even funny. If they could make some decent outlet passes to feed transition, that’s one thing. But no…
It’s not a good sign when (as I thought during the 3rd period last night) the Maple Leafs are making you look slow out there.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Jan 12, 2011 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
The only good thing out of this loss seems to be the bullet the team avoided with Couture.
Getting Little Joe back would help. It’s not the fix we need, but it’s a fix we could use.
- "You have very lucky dishes, Mr. Simpson. He says he will banish dirt to the land of wind and ghost."
- "Remember...we parked in the Itchy Lot."
- "The frogurt is also cursed."
by Alex Houston on Jan 12, 2011 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t think the Leafs are a slow team actually. When we’re winning it’s because the other teams can’t keep up and when we’re losing it’s because we’re beating our heads against a wall trying to get through the neutral zone with that speed when the other team clogs it uo
You guys are just in a funk, it happens to the best of teams. I’m sure you’ll turn it around soon.
Brett Lebda makes me cry myself to sleep every night
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Jan 12, 2011 5:12 PM PST up reply actions
Thank you Chris
Fan frustration happens, and at least we are able to analyze and talk about the problems with the team. There are some fans who have only been around for a few seasons, so this funk is something they’ve never seen before. A lot of us are keeping our heads up in this situation and hoping that the teams starts showing us the Sharks team we’ve been watching for the past couple of seasons.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 8:50 AM PST up reply actions
Still, seeing 5 L's in a row is something I'm not used to seeing
And I sure hope it isn’t going to start now.
- "You have very lucky dishes, Mr. Simpson. He says he will banish dirt to the land of wind and ghost."
- "Remember...we parked in the Itchy Lot."
- "The frogurt is also cursed."
What an absolutely tragic night.
Heater can’t bury a puck to save his life, Jumbo is practically invisible as captain on the ice (who knows in the locker room, but my feeling isn’t good there either), as are Patty and Danny Boyle as alternates (which I’m fine with, they both need to focus on their own game at this point).
Clowe, Murray, and Nichol are now too valuable to drop the gloves with our juries, D-situation, and our necessary reliance on winning face-offs, and we’re left with effectively nobody to charge the team up physically. Couture get’s absolutely molested by Orr and the ice remained blood free- and TMac and the rest of the team apparently thought that was the right thing to do. Sorry, but when you’re scoring as little as we are, guaranteed physical payback seems like a better bet than hoping our recently horrible PP can do it for us. We’re not scaring teams with our speed or scoring, the least we could do is use our size and show them they can’t fuck with us physically without worrying about us retaliating. Or, here’s an idea, maybe just play the slightest bit nasty on a regular basis so things like that don’t happen in the first place. They’re taking this “classy” thing way too far if you ask me. This is hockey, not a fucking 9-month HR seminar- get out there and wash some faces.
Niemi… I don’t know. The complete defensive breakdown cuts him slack, but he seems to go from a brick wall to swiss cheese real fast when that happens. He’s certainly improved, and on some nights he’s unbeatable, but if he’s not playing perfect he seems to regress immediately back to his early season self (see the cowardly lion crossed with Scarecrow- no confidence and no arms) with pretty much no middle ground. I touched on Niitty’s prolonged period of bench riding yesterday, and while I don’t know if the outcome would have been any different with him in net, we really have no way of knowing cuz he’s not even getting opportunities to start until Niemi’s had 4 or more games in net. Since Christmas Niitty is 0-2 and Niemi is 2-5, and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised to see Niitty end up 0-3 after playing only 2 games in 20 days (even if he gets his first start against Edmonton, which I have to assume he will).
Clowe’s post game interview last night broke my fucking heart. That poor man came into this season determined to give 110% percent after last year, got paired up with a kid who had the same attitude and had great success, and he ends up looking around at an under .500 team, who can’t get it’s shit together from the top line to the blue line over half-way through the season, with his fucking rock being treated for an injury he wasn’t allowed to avenge and nobody else stepped up for. Broke my fucking heart.
I really hope Bret was right, I hope that this is the Sharks rock bottom. I don’t know that I can stand to see them sink any lower, I seriously already have Sharks Seasonal Affective Disorder- and that ain’t covered by medical insurance.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
The struggles of #15 are particularly hard for me to grasp. In the last week, he’s definitely stepped up his effort level at both ends of the ice, and I’ve really noticed him battling hard for loose pucks along the boards in the offensive zone. That said, he’s paid a lot of money to do something he’s having a lot of trouble doing.
..:Fear The Fin:..
Twittaaaaaaahhh
The complete defensive breakdown cuts him slack, but he seems to go from a brick wall to swiss cheese real fast when that happens.
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Atfer Niemi lets one in there seems to be a flurry of them.It takes him too long to mentally recover from a goal it seems. Also I was also noticing Hiller and Reimer look really comfortable in front of the net—Niemi just doesn’t look comfortable. I don’t know how else to explain it but Hiller esp looks at ease.
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
CloweMyWorld! I completely agree with you about the Niemi situation. It also seems more often than not he’ll be solid for 2 periods and then the puck finds the back of the net one after the other. It would be nice to see what would happen if they rode Nitty in net for a while instead of letting him ride the bench. The kid had some talent when he got to play more than one game every month. He had a few bad games and that’s when we started seeing more Neemo. I say give the man another chance to see if practice improved his play.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 12, 2011 2:58 PM PST up reply actions
Clowemyworld!
Kinda like that…
Niitty got abandoned by the D for stretches in his last couple starts, on top of having them happen infrequently, so I find it hard to believe when people say he’s really playing much worse than earlier this season, despite his GA rising. Before Christmas he was on a three game streak and things we’re starting to pick up (remember the pre-Christmas hope? sigh.) then Niemi got the next start against LA on FTF night, since then he’s played 7 to Niitty’s 2. Obviously we have been having no success since then.
It’s certainly not Niemi’s fault we’re losing so many games, but I really don’t see why they continue to throw him in game after game and let Niitty get rusty. It’s certainly not like we’re on a hot streak with him in net.
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 4:49 PM PST up reply actions
haha
I didn’t know how to shorten it, and i completely agree again. I actually had a good conversation that consisted of what you stated to a friend of mine. I really do feel that Nitty just hasn’t had the chances that he should have. It’s odd to see Niemi start game after game and lose, but maybe there is a bigger plan to this. My other theory is that the team doesn’t exactly trust Niemi yet, so they’re playing him to try to instill that trust. I could very well be grasping for strings, though.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 8:54 AM PST up reply actions
Losing Ways
Looks like San Jose fired the wrong coach! There’s no desire in this group! I’ve watched more heart and enthusiasm in peewees, but these guys are getting way too much $ to keep quitting in front of the home town fans! What an embarrassment!!!!
I think the worst part about this latest loss is that it was against Toronto. Therefore, the hockey world was actually watcing for a change, and are now seeing the team we’ve watched all season for the first time. So now come out the articles about “wtf is up with the sharks?” and tweets from the canadian hockey pundits about how slow and awful we look.
So now I have to read about how bad we are everywhere. Usually I at least get to wait until the playoffs for the national hockey media to take notice.
ARG! I’m just really frusterated with the team right now. I’m pretty sure we all are. So , so bad.
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
The Jody Shelley of FearTheFin's Mod Squad.
Tweet Tweet.
Update on Couture on SJSharks main page.
Sorry I don/’t know how to post the link…
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
Here ya go
In the comment form on the bottom of any article there’s a little link that says “Show Formatting Guide” in between the Subject and Message boxes, very helpful for editing posts :)
"That's my dummy!" - Joe Thornton, Brian Duffy
So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon as a shark, with a gun for a mouth.
by CloweMyWord! on Jan 12, 2011 2:26 PM PST up reply actions
ahhhhh
I just figured out block quotes recently. Now I can post links too!! One day I’ll try to add a pic.
Spiffy. Thanks for the info :)
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
Just read that Sharks might be interested in Chris Phillips.
I have no info on him other than he’s a D man from Ottawa. Those in the know wanna “school” me a bit?
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
Plank and TCY did a write up involving him a few days back.
But to sort of summarize, he’s a decent option as a hybrid-ish defenseman who can move the puck but be relied on to be defensively sound. Not super expensive and not too old (32 I believe).
I just talk a lot and somehow accidentally say things that sound smart. It’s all smoke and mirrors, I tell ya.
by Auth0r on Jan 12, 2011 4:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
oops
Didn’t notice that. Guess I didn’t know who he was so it didn’t penetrate the brain. I remember reading about Beauchimin and Kaberle and Versteeg. I’ll go back and find it. Thanks!!!
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
No worries and you're welcome.
Mostly I direct you that way because I thought it was an excellent rundown of the currently most common names.
I just talk a lot and somehow accidentally say things that sound smart. It’s all smoke and mirrors, I tell ya.
by Auth0r on Jan 12, 2011 5:59 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Well, I'm fairly sure that the Sharks will rebound
They’ve started playing a bit better. When Pavelski gets back, they should be a force again.
Waiting for the cup in San Jose
I never forget a face, but in your case, I'd be glad to make an exception-Groucho Marx
by sanjosesharksfan on Jan 12, 2011 5:55 PM PST reply actions
Optimism waning
Los Tiburones tienen huevos pequenos.
Win tomorrow
… if for anything just so that all the haters that like to come out of the woodwork and talk sh*t go back to paying attention to their other sports. ^ bleh
"Burnside seems to hate these guys. Oh wait ... I seem to love these guys!" - Pierre LeBrun
Back East
If you lived back East you’d realize that “real fans” do criticize their teams because of their passion and love for that team. SJ has a lot of apologists who get defensive when someone says they should have stood up to Orr for the hit on Couch. Or, Jumbo’s role isn’t to lead this team out of their doldrums by standing up to Orr or Phanuef. Why does Clowe have to always do it? Or when someone suggests making a trade to help this team down the road, even if it means giving up a prominent piece like Patty, people feel threatened.
In the year that I’ve followed this blog I’ve noticed that many of the participants are unwilling to admit that this team is not what they thought it was going to be. In other words, they’re pretty bad this year. The Defense is not nearly good enough to compete against the faster, more skilled teams in the league like Vancouver or Detroit and therefore would get killed in the playoffs and be no better off for it.
Doesn’t it make more sense to improve the team for years to come by building around the young talent that we have? I think our current leadership group is perhaps too meek, and so there is no one to lead us out of this mess. Last game was a perfect opportunity for a leader to step up and challenge a player from Toronto and the only one I saw doing so was Clowe. He’s the Captain of this team in my eyes, not Thornton. That is partly why Joe was forced out of Boston, not because he isn’t extremely talented, but because they chose to make him their captain and he couldn’t deliver on the leadership role. I thought being older now and because of what happened last year, he would develop into that type of character captain. I love him as a Shark, just not as a captain. I think Clowe has earned it this year for speaking up when no others would and for always standing up to protect Couch and anyone else who gets a cheap shot. And for all you Toronto fans, I’m sorry you haven’t made the playoffs in 5 years, but denying that that was a cheap hit on Couch just shows how pathetic you are. Enjoy your Winter.
first of all
who cares what side of the States you come from. Everyone has the capacity to understand, follow, love, criticize, and critique the team they follow. Some more than others, but that doesn’t make them any more or less a fan.
They did what they had to do for the Orr Situation. You don’t go running around taking dumb freaking penalties, and if you missed it, Clowe WAS trying to stick up for Cooter, but was stopped by the refs. The refs were doing their job while the team was doing what they could to show their support. There was also the fact that Orr didn’t see any ice time after that hit. Everyone knows if that man put a single sliver of that blade on the ice Clowe would have been on him.
and no, it isn’t Joe’s job to “stand up” to individuals like that. His role IS to lead the team, but what kind of message are you sending when you go after people who had no part in the hit? That you are a dirty player with no respect to anyone on the ice.
This team has seen better seasons, but that is no reason to start screaming that your opinion is what is right and good. People come here to debate. If they feel threatened about something try reasoning instead calling out people. Right now emotions are high. All of us are going through the same thing you are. We are upset, uptight, emotional, confused, frustrated, and so on. Some of us turn to the comfort of optimism. Those rainbows and butterflies they babble about is a way for them to cope, while the pessimistic feel like what they say is just more coal on the fire. Lets just all try to get along, stop throwing around general accusations about one another, and keep rooting for our team who isn’t doing all that well this season.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 9:21 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Just because....
some choose not to voice disapointments and dump on the team does not mean we don’t feel let down at this moment in time. It can be difficult to have the opinion that’s in the minority (i.e. trading Patty is a touchy subject). IMHO criticizing your team does not make you less or more of a fan; neither does blindless optimism. As ZS said below emotions are running high right now, so I can see your side on this matter, I don’t fully agree, but appreciate the sentiment.
OH MY GOD! The Coochy-Guchi-Clowe Line! -Cerise
I got Boyle'd at FTF Night @ The Tank.
FINNISH HIM!!!!
by mssjsclowie29 on Jan 13, 2011 9:35 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
for all you Toronto fans, I’m sorry you haven’t made the playoffs in 5 years, but denying that that was a cheap hit on Couch just shows how pathetic you are. Enjoy your Winter.
It was a dangerous play and I (and many Leafs fans) would have been happy to see Orr get fined/suspended. But thanks for being a dick about it.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Jan 13, 2011 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
This user has now been warned
Please don’t take it personally.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Heh, no worries, we get worse from our own media pretty much every day.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Jan 13, 2011 10:38 AM PST up reply actions
At least you are upbeat about. Thank you for having a level head :)
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
Like I said
Emotions are high for a lot of us :( Things are said out of anger. Thank you for coming and voicing that you were displeased with this. It’s very unfortunate that he lashed out this way.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 10:17 AM PST up reply actions
I think ZS, MsClowie, and Elvis covered this all pretty well, but I wanted to add one thing.
I’m pretty sure DownRUpLYB wasn’t saying don’t criticize. I’m pretty sure he was talking about the people who don’t come around except when we’re losing and pretty much only say things to rub it in that don’t actually join in the discussion or explain their claims. It’s fine to be upset with the team (and at this point, I doubt there’s anyone who isn’t at least a little), but trying to make people feel like crap for liking the team is just a shitty thing to do.
I just talk a lot and somehow accidentally say things that sound smart. It’s all smoke and mirrors, I tell ya.
We need Def
All this talk about our offense is not the source of our problems. The offense is in a slump. The Capitals lost like 10 games in a row. It happens. Long time Shark fans have seen it all when it comes to loosing. What we need to doe is get a trade for a big shut down Def. player. Pronger like. Some names Shae Webber. from Toronto Tomas Kaberle Deon Phenuef. If we get a one more def to take care of the crease adn not let the second and third chances at Neimi and Co. Then you will see us start wining the close ones. Finishing 3rd period with the lead remaining intact. Get a some Def and we will be back to being a Play Off Stanley Cup favorite.
by San_Hezzy_Playa on Jan 13, 2011 10:51 AM PST reply actions
Didn’t I just see this in the other post?
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
Goodbye
Having followed the Sharks since their inception, I can honestly say that I’ve loved watching them grow into the team they have become. Expectations are very high and the bar has been set, so now anything less is viewed as a dissapointment. This team is a major dissapointment to me and thus my criticism. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love them or that I’m not a true fan (probably more so than most of you who don’t have 20 years in the Bay)
If the Sharks lose tonight it will be the first time since 1997 that they’ve dropped 6 in a row at home. They have 6 goals in their last 5 games and have given up 4 goals in their last 16 minutes of play. Rock bottom is where we are, so let’s hope we go up from here. Also, I love the city of Toronto, much as I do NYC. However, it is a fact that the Canadian winters are brutal and for one, I’m glad to be on the West coast, avoiding such extreme cold. I guess that makes me soft.
If I’ve offended, that was not my intent. Good luck to all of you, many of whom will hopefully stay true and loyal to the SJ Sharks!
Ciao!
I've never lived in the bay
but i’ve followed them since the beginning with my dad. I was 3 when he first introduced me to them. We would drive up into the hills that are around the Valley we live in just to get radio reception of the game. He would spend any extra cash he could get from working two jobs to take me to the games. Later on when my sister was a bit older he started taking her also. This doesn’t make me anymore a true fan as anyone else out there who bleeds teal.
A lot of what you said was out of anger, which is understandable. Everyone’s nerves are shot right now. Toronto may be cold, but you also inserted the word “pathetic”. Most likely said out of anger. Just try to take a breather for a bit. Calm your nerves with some soothing tea, and move on rooting for the Sharks.
The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly -Jamie Baker
by ZombieSkittles on Jan 13, 2011 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
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